Why do some radicalized, would-be terrorists walk away from violent extremism? A new report by Michael Jacobson of the Washington Institute for Near East Policy looks for answers.

International cyberattacks have skyrocketed, not only in number but also in severity, while security efforts have suffered cuts due to the recession, according to an unprecedented survey by McAfee and the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

The Pentagon’s independent investigation into the 2009 massacre at Fort Hood, Texas, recommended various reforms, including the update of training and educational programs to help Defense Department personnel spot signs of radicalization.

Despite increased funding and personnel over the last 10 years, the State Department’s Bureau of Diplomatic Security suffers from staffing shortages, language deficiencies, and experience gaps. Read more about the situation in this GAO report.

In a new RAND Europe report, researchers attempt to quantify how people assess security and privacy tradeoffs in the United Kingdom.

Budgets for acquiring new security technology are recovering, according to two new Forrester Research reports (here and here). Forty-two percent of larger businesses and 37 percent of small and medium-sized organizations expect such spending to increase at least 5 percent in 2010.

An employee who was fired for repeatedly violating her company’s overtime policy may not sue for religious discrimination, according to a federal appeals court. The employee, a conservative Christian, claimed that her employer took action against her because of her condemnation of homosexuals.

An employee can pursue her sexual harassment claim against her company even though she never reported the problem, a federal appeals court has ruled. The court ruled that because the employee’s supervisor took actions indicating that he knew about the harassment, he could not later claim ignorance.

A company’s fear of workplace violence was a legitimate, nondiscriminatory reason for firing an employee who had been diagnosed with bi-polar disorder, a federal district court has ruled.

An influential report by the New York Police Department’s Intelligence Division charts common factors and stages in the path to radical Islam and terrorist violence.

A Michigan court has dismissed a sexual harassment lawsuit as a sanction for a plaintiff’s misconduct. The court ruled that the plaintiff may not pursue his case because he deleted his personal e-mail after being told to preserve it as evidence.

A federal court upheld the sentencing of disbarred attorney Lynne Stewart, who was convicted of passing messages from her client Sheikh Omar Abdel Rahman to his followers.

A bill (H.R. 1727) requiring that local law enforcement collect information on convicted arsonists and bombers similar to that currently collected on sex offenders has been approved by the House of Representatives. It has been referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee.

A bill (S. 1649) that would seek to prevent terrorist attacks in part by strengthening security at laboratories that handle dangerous pathogens has been approved by the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. The measure must now be considered by the full Senate.

A bill (H.R. 2868) intended to increase security at chemical facilities has been approved by the House of Representatives. It has been referred to the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee.

A bill (H.R. 2221) that would set out requirements for data security has been approved by the House of Representatives. It has been referred to the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee.

A new Georgia law (formerly S.B. 82) regulates the secondary sale of metals such as copper and provides penalties for the theft of such metals. Under the new law, anyone purchasing the materials must obtain a photocopy of the seller’s driver’s license. If the metal being purchased is part of a motor vehicle, the seller must provide the title or a certificate from the state designating that the car can be sold as scrap. Under the new law, selling stolen metal valued at more than $500 is punishable by a fine of up to $5,000 and up to five years in prison.

A new bill (S.B. 25) pending in the Indiana General Assembly would make it illegal for a company to prohibit employees from keeping firearms locked in their cars on company property. The bill would also apply to contract employees. Exemptions are provided for schools, penal institutions, and domestic violence shelters.